Former Vice President joins Tom Barrett at Charlotte rally
The race for Michigan’s 7th District has become the most expensive race in the country
CHARLOTTE, Mich. (WILX) - Former Vice President Mike Pence was in Charlotte on Friday to campaign for Senator Tom Barrett in his challenge against Democrat Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin.
Earlier in the week, Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney was in Lansing to endorse Slotkin, a Democrat, in the race for Michigan House.
More: Rep. Cheney endorses Rep. Slotkin at ‘Evening for Patriotism and Bipartisanship’ event
The race for Michigan’s 7th District has become the most expensive race in the country and is key to Republicans winning a majority.
“Congress, in four days from here in Michigan, will secure a Republican majority in House,” Pence said.
Michigan State University political scientist Matt Grossman said it’s not likely visits from Pence and Cheney will sway voters.
“It is one more signal this is an important election,” Grossman said.
That’s because Grossman said most of the independent voters don’t often vote in Midterm elections, but it makes sense that Slotkin and Barrett are using well-known surrogates.
“Chenny is an attempt by Slotkin to position herself as a moderate, as someone who might appeal to, if not current Republicans, people who were Republicans in the past,” Grossman said. “Whereas for Barrett, this is a more traditional event.”
Part of the reason the race is so close is because of the way the lines were redrawn in the redistricting process.
“In these kinds of cycles, we tend to see more changes,” Grossman said. “Because even though there is an incumbent, that incumbent doesn’t have that incumbency advantage.”
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